Hormônios, masculinidade e velhice: um estudo de sites de laboratórios farmacêuticos e associações médico- científicas

Abstract

The "male hormonal decline associated with aging" has been increasingly the object of medicine, particularly urology. In recent years, we observe the promotion and divulgation of diagnostic category ADAM (Androgen Disorder of the Aging Male) for this medical specialty, both the secular sphere as in the medical-scientific. Our working hypothesis is that there is a relationship between the medical-scientific class and pharmaceutical industry in the development, promotion and divulgation of diagnostic categories and terminology used to characterize the male hormonal decline associated with aging. Thus, the aim of this study was to characterize how this decline is defined and dealt, in sites of pharmaceutical and medical-scientific associations, analyzing the process of medicalization of male sexuality and aging. In order to accomplish this goal, a survey was made of the sites of pharmaceutical companies that sell drugs for male sexual health. We limit the search in erectile dysfunction and male hormonal decline associated with aging , because the erectile dysfunction is one of the symptoms of this decline more emphasized in medical-scientific speeches. Data collection was conducted through the search in sections of the sites ("Men's Health," "Men's Health", "Sexual Health", "Male Sexual Health", "Urology", "Urologic Health", "Endocrinology", "Andrology"). Then, we characterized the textual material found in each site studied, with the help of software Openlogos, manager of textual data utility to organize and retrieve information from unstructured text. Regarding the images was prepared a script, trying to describe the characters, gestures, symbols, actions, and movements observed in them. Regarding the video found, we transcribed the voice message, listing some expressions and grammatical classes found in the speech. Furthermore, we observed and we analyzed details such as differences in tone of voice, images transmitted in the speech, posture, actions and gestures of the speakers. Finally, we systematize inferences about the ideas behind the arguments put forward on the male hormonal decline associated with aging, in the sites surveyed. After the content analysis of the material we noted that this decline has been promoted through a partnership between medical-scientific sphere and pharmaceutical industry, in which hormone replacement therapy (HRT) with testosterone is not presented only as a solution to this problem but also as a mean to recover happiness, productivity, "quality of life" and "lost well-being.